Developmental Psychology Notes
Developmental Psychology Notes- Chapter 5: Early Childhood: Body and Mind
Healthy 6 year old: weighs between 40-50 lbs, least 3.5 ft tall, looks lean not cubby, has adult like body proportions (legs constitute half of total height)
Height of Children T-S: African, European, Asian and Latino descent
Obesity major problem, children from low income families especially vulnerable to obesity bc their cultures quard against undernutrition/parents rely on cheap fast food (low nutritional value/high calorie value). Body weight increases as income falls. Need to exercise regularly and eat five to nine servings of fruit/vegetables.
Children’s diets deficient: iron, zinc, calcium
Recommended amount of juice 6 ounces, 24 ounces of milk daily and no cola/sugary drinks
Holidays to be wary of: Halloween, Christmas, Easter rewarding children with candy
Tooth decay most common disease of young children
“Just-right Characteristic” seen in 75% of 3 year olds * Preferred to have things done in a particular order/certain way * Strong preference to wear/not wear certain clothes * Prepared for bedtime by engaging in certain activity/routine * Strong preferences for certain foods
*Many young children have strong preferences to what/how they eat, and many parents overfeed their children. Together these factors lead to nutritional problems.
Develop gross motor skills spontaneously/diligently through play. Fine motor skills are (especially with hands/fingers) harder to master.
Environmental Hazards:
Pollution: Toxins in the air/water/food supply can interfere with the development of motor skills. This is mostly a concern with urban children.
Lead: Found as a pigment in paint/anti-knock additive in gasoline. Exposure leads to reduction of intelligence/increase behavior problems in young children. US laws banned the use of lead in paint and gasoline. Very high levels can cause mental retardation/death.
Brain Development
By age 2, child’s
Healthy 6 year old: weighs between 40-50 lbs, least 3.5 ft tall, looks lean not cubby, has adult like body proportions (legs constitute half of total height)
Height of Children T-S: African, European, Asian and Latino descent
Obesity major problem, children from low income families especially vulnerable to obesity bc their cultures quard against undernutrition/parents rely on cheap fast food (low nutritional value/high calorie value). Body weight increases as income falls. Need to exercise regularly and eat five to nine servings of fruit/vegetables.
Children’s diets deficient: iron, zinc, calcium
Recommended amount of juice 6 ounces, 24 ounces of milk daily and no cola/sugary drinks
Holidays to be wary of: Halloween, Christmas, Easter rewarding children with candy
Tooth decay most common disease of young children
“Just-right Characteristic” seen in 75% of 3 year olds * Preferred to have things done in a particular order/certain way * Strong preference to wear/not wear certain clothes * Prepared for bedtime by engaging in certain activity/routine * Strong preferences for certain foods
*Many young children have strong preferences to what/how they eat, and many parents overfeed their children. Together these factors lead to nutritional problems.
Develop gross motor skills spontaneously/diligently through play. Fine motor skills are (especially with hands/fingers) harder to master.
Environmental Hazards:
Pollution: Toxins in the air/water/food supply can interfere with the development of motor skills. This is mostly a concern with urban children.
Lead: Found as a pigment in paint/anti-knock additive in gasoline. Exposure leads to reduction of intelligence/increase behavior problems in young children. US laws banned the use of lead in paint and gasoline. Very high levels can cause mental retardation/death.
Brain Development
By age 2, child’s